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Kelava S, Apanaskevich DA, Shao R, Gofton AW, Mans BJ, Teo EJM, Norval G, Barker D, Nakao R, Barker SC. Insights from entire mitochondrial genome sequences into the phylogeny of ticks of the genera Haemaphysalis and Archaeocroton with the elevation of the subgenus Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 back to the status of a genus. Med Vet Entomol 2024; 38:189-204. [PMID: 38469668 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
We used entire mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences (14.5-15 kbp) to resolve the phylogeny of the four main lineages of the Haematobothrion ticks: Alloceraea, Archaeocroton, Bothriocroton and Haemaphysalis. In our phylogenetic trees, Alloceraea was the sister to Archaeocroton sphenodonti, a tick of an archetypal reptile, the tuatara, from New Zealand, to the exclusion of the rest of the species of Haemaphysalis. The mt genomes of all four of the Alloceraea species that have been sequenced so far had a substantial insert, 132-312 bp, between the tRNA-Glu (E) gene and the nad1 gene in their mt genomes. This insert was not found in any of the other eight subgenera of Haemaphysalis. The mt genomes of 13 species of Haemaphysalis from NCBI GenBank were added to the most recent data set on Haemaphysalis and its close relatives to help resolve the phylogeny of Haemaphysalis, including five new subgenera of Haemaphysalis not previously considered by other authors: Allophysalis (structurally primitive), Aboimisalis (structurally primitive), Herpetobia (structurally intermediate), Ornithophysalis (structurally advanced) and Segalia (structurally advanced). We elevated Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 to the status of genus because Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 is phylogenetically distinct from the other subgenera of Haemaphysalis. Moreover, we propose that the subgenus Allophysalis is the sister to the rest of the Haemaphysalis (14 subgenera) and that the 'structurally primitive' subgenera Hoogstraal and Kim comprise early diverging lineages. Our matrices of the pairwise genetic difference (percent) of mt genomes and partial 16S rRNA sequences indicated that the mt genome sequence of Al. kitaokai (gb# OM368280) may not be Al. kitaokai Hoogstraal, 1969 but rather another species of Alloceraea. In a similar way, the mt genome sequence of H. (Herpetobia) nepalensis Hoogstraal, 1962 (gb# NC_064124) was only 2% genetically different to that of H. (Allophysalis) tibetensis Hoogstraal, 1965 (gb# OM368293): this indicates to us that they are the same species. Alloceraea cretacea may be better placed in a genus other than Alloceraea Schulze, 1919. Reptiles may have been the host to the most recent common ancestor of Archaeocroton and Alloceraea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kelava
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- Institute for Coastal Sciences, US National Tick Collection, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
| | - Renfu Shao
- Centre for Bioinnovation, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander W Gofton
- Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
- The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Ernest J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gerrut Norval
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dayana Barker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Zhang B, Wang X, Aguli Nurland R, Lu M, Guan Y, Liu M, Gao F, Li K. Investigation of tick-borne bacterial microorganisms in Haemaphysalis ticks from Hebei, Shandong, and Qinghai provinces, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102290. [PMID: 38070273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne microorganisms in many tick species and many areas of China are still not thoroughly investigated. In this study, 224 ticks including two species (Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis) were collected from four cities in Hebei, Shandong, and Qinghai provinces, China. Ticks were screened for the presence of tick-borne bacterial microorganisms including Rickettsia, Anaplasmataceae (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia, etc.), Coxiella, Borrelia, and Bartonella. Two Anaplasma species (Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma capra) were detected in H. longicornis from Xingtai City of Hebei Province, with a positive rate of 3 % and 8 %, respectively. A Coxiella species was detected in H. longicornis ticks from all three locations in Hebei and Shandong provinces, with the positive rate ranging from 30 to 75 %. All the 16S and rpoB sequences were very similar (99.77-100 % identity) to Coxiella endosymbiont of Haemaphysalis ticks. An Ehrlichia species was detected in H. qinghaiensis (6/66, 9 %) from Xining City, Qinghai Province. The 16S and groEL sequences had 100 % and 97.40-97.85 % nucleotide identities to "Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana" strains, respectively, suggesting that it may be a variant of "Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana". All the ticks were negative for Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Bartonella. Because all the ticks were removed from goats or humans and were partially or fully engorged, it is possible that the microorganisms were from the blood meal but not vectored by the ticks. Our results may provide some information on the diversity and distribution of tick-borne pathogens in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi City 830011, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Xinjiang 474 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group CO.LTD, Urumqi City 830000, China
| | - Rewuzi Aguli Nurland
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi City 830011, China
| | - Miao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing City 102206, China
| | - Yaqun Guan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi City 830011, China
| | - Mengyun Liu
- Xinjiang 474 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group CO.LTD, Urumqi City 830000, China
| | - Fan Gao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi City 830011, China
| | - Kun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing City 102206, China.
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Ahrabi SZ, Akyildiz G, Kar S, Keles AG. Detection of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Genome in Questing Ixodes spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. in the Periurban Forestry Areas of Istanbul: Has a New Biorisk Emerged? Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:528-536. [PMID: 37527191 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Istanbul is one of the world's most densely populated metropolitan cities, with various geographical areas that possess distinct characteristics. These areas have different climates, vegetation, and host populations that can support the survival of diverse tick species. Turkey is a region with a high risk of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease, making it crucial to screen for this risk, especially in densely populated regions such as Istanbul and its surrounding areas. However, the presence of potential vectors for CCHF virus (CCHFV) in these areas has not been studied in the past 12 years. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 676 ticks were collected from 6 centers using the flagging and dragging method. Ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus (7.85%), Ixodes spp. immature form (73.22%), Haemaphysalis parva (0.89%), Haemaphysalis inermis (0.15%), and Haemaphysalis spp. immature form (17.89%). Pooled samples were screened for the CCHFV genome (S segment) by RT-nested PCR. Results: A total of 14.28% of the samples were found as positive. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the CCHFV sequences obtained from the positive samples were clustered in clade V: Europe/Turkey genogroup. Conclusion: This study suggests that ixodes spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. may have the potential to pose a biorisk for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Zarrabi Ahrabi
- Department of Basic Health Science, Health Sciences Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gurkan Akyildiz
- Department of Basic Health Science, Health Sciences Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sirri Kar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
| | - Aysen Gargili Keles
- Department of Basic Health Science, Health Sciences Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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González J, Fonseca DM, Toledo A. Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Species in the Ecotone of Parks and Recreational Areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA). Insects 2023; 14:258. [PMID: 36975943 PMCID: PMC10057079 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
People often use parks and other forested areas for outdoor activities such as hiking and walking their dogs. Areas of primary use are paths or grassy meadows on the edges of the forests that constitute transitional areas between different plant communities (aka ecotones). In this study, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of questing ticks in forest/meadow and forest/path ecotones in five areas in Middlesex County, New Jersey (NJ). We found anthropophilic species such as Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis coexisting with Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species first detected in NJ in 2017. Surveillance was conducted weekly from March to November 2020, and collected ticks were identified. The most abundant tick species was H. longicornis (83%), followed by A. americanum (9%), I. scapularis (7%), and D. variabilis (<1%). The seasonal dynamics of A. americanum and I. scapularis in the ecotone were similar to previous surveys in forest habitats. The presence of anthropophilic ticks, particularly I. scapularis, suggests the need for specific control approaches to target these habitats. In addition, the extraordinarily high numbers of H. longicornis collected in ecotones (1.70 ticks/m2) and frequent reports of this species on dogs highlight the importance of monitoring its expansion due to its potential as a vector of animal and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dina M. Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Alkathiri B, Ahn K, Lee H, Cho YS, Youn SY, Seo MG, Kwak D, Shin S, Lee SH. Molecular epidemiology of Theileria species in ticks and its potential threat to livestock in the Republic of Korea. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106780. [PMID: 36471538 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate molecular epidemiology of Theileria spp. in ticks in Korea and assess their potential threat from wildlife animals to domestic animals. A total of 21152 hard ticks were collected from Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces of Korea from March to October 2021. Tick species were identified by microscopy and Theileria spp. were screened by nested PCR targeting 18S rRNA. Haemaphysalis spp. were the most abundant tick species, followed by H. longicornis, H. flava, Amblyomma testudinarium, and Ixodes nipponensis. Of the collected ticks, 6914 ticks (541 pools) were screened, and PCR showed 211 positive pools (39.0%; MIR: 3.05). The PCR and phylogenetic analysis identified two Theileria species, T. luwenshuni and Theileria sp., with T. luwenshuni (162/211, 76.78%; MIR: 2.34) being more abundant than Theileria sp. (36/211, 17.06%; MIR: 0.52); co-infection of the two species were noted (13/211, 6.16%; MIR: 0.19). Among the tick species, H. longicornis, especially nymphs, showed the highest prevalence. Regarding season, the highest prevalence was observed in May. Considering the tick and Theileria species identified in this study, H. longicornis nymph and cervine play a critical role in maintaining Theileria spp. in Korea and could be a potential threat to domestic animals, including deer and goats. In addition, there are significant correlations among tick distribution, region, season, and prevalence of Theileria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badriah Alkathiri
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - KyuSung Ahn
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeseung Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Parasitic and Honeybee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial and Parasitic Disease Division, Department of Animal & Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - So Youn Youn
- Parasitic and Honeybee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial and Parasitic Disease Division, Department of Animal & Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Goo Seo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongmi Kwak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - SungShik Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hun Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea.
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Keve G, Csörgő T, Benke A, Huber A, Mórocz A, Németh Á, Kalocsa B, Tamás EA, Gyurácz J, Kiss O, Kováts D, Sándor AD, Karcza Z, Hornok S. Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1147186. [PMID: 37035818 PMCID: PMC10073722 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1147186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Reports on adult Hyalomma ticks in certain regions of the Carpathian Basin date back to the 19th century. These ticks were thought to emerge from nymphs dropping from birds, then molting to adults. Although the role of migratory birds in carrying ticks of this genus is known from all parts of Europe, in most countries no contemporaneous multiregional surveillance of bird-associated ticks was reported which could allow the recognition of hotspots in this context. From 38 passeriform bird species 956 ixodid ticks were collected at seven locations in Hungary. Tick species were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n = 598), Ixodes frontalis (n = 18), Ixodes lividus (n = 6), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 321), and D. reticulatus (n = 1). All 12 Hyalomma sp. ticks (11 engorged nymphs and 1 unengorged larva) were identified as H. rufipes based on three mitochondrial markers. This species was only found in the Transdanubian region and along its southeastern border. The Common Blackbird and the European Robin were the two main hosts of I. ricinus and I. frontalis, whereas H. concinna was almost exclusively collected form long-distance migrants. The predominant hosts of H. rufipes were reed-associated bird species, the Sedge Warbler and the Bearded Reedling, both in their nesting period. This study provides ornithological explanation for the regional, century-long presence of adult Hyalomma ticks under continental climate in the Transdanubian Region of the Carpathian Basin. More importantly, the autochthonous occurrence of a H. rufipes population was revealed for the first time in Europe, based on the following observations: (1) the bird species infested with H. rufipes are not known to migrate during their nesting period; (2) one larva was not yet engorged; (3) the larva and the nymphs must have belonged to different local generations; and (4) all H. rufipes found in the relevant location were identical in their haplotypes based on three maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, probably reflecting founder effect. This study also demonstrated regional and temporal differences in tick species carried by birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Keve
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Gergő Keve
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Benke
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Fenékpuszta Bird Ringing Station, Keszthely, Hungary
| | - Attila Huber
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary
| | - Attila Mórocz
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Duna-Dráva National Park Directorate, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ákos Németh
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Kiskunság National Park Directorate, Kecskemét, Hungary
- Kiskunság Bird Protection Association, Izsák, Hungary
| | | | - Enikő Anna Tamás
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Water Sciences, University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary
| | - József Gyurácz
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Savaria, Szombathely, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Dávid Kováts
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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González J, Lockhart A, Wu Q, Simon JE, Toledo A. Repellency of novel catnip (Nepeta cataria) cultivar extracts against Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102046. [PMID: 36130440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tick bites are a major public health concern due to the vector role that many tick species have in transmitting human pathogens. Synthetic repellents such as N‑diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) remain the standard for repellency. Still, there is a need for natural commercial alternatives with similar or better properties than DEET. We evaluated the repellency of two extracts, CR3 and CR9, derived for newly developed catnip cultivars on two tick species, Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis. Dose-response in vitro assays showed that CR3 and CR9 extracts have similar repellency properties to DEET. At a 20% concentration, both CR3 and CR9 extracts exhibited a repellency of 100%. Catnip extracts maintained their repellency properties for at least 8 h. In a two-choice assay, I. scapularis, but not H. longicornis, was more sensitive to CR3 than DEET. In addition, CR3 reduces the life span of I. scapularis, suggesting that it has an acaricidal effect on ticks. In summary, CR3 and CR9 catnip extracts are promising tick repellents that should be further developed, alone or in combination with other tick repellents, and tested for their use as tick repellents for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia González
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Anthony Lockhart
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Qingli Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Center for Food Systems Sustainability, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, and the New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Rutgers University, 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - James E Simon
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Center for Food Systems Sustainability, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, and the New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Rutgers University, 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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Madder M, Day M, Schunack B, Fourie J, Labuschange M, van der Westhuizen W, Johnson S, Githigia SM, Akande FA, Nzalawahe JS, Tayebwa DS, Aschenborn O, Marcondes M, Heylen D. A community approach for pathogens and their arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) in cats of sub-Saharan Africa. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:321. [PMID: 36085039 PMCID: PMC9461260 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05436-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly studied in companion animals. Given their socioeconomic importance, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part of the WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. Methods In six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Namibia) in both rural and urban settings, 160 infested cats were sampled to assess their ectoparasite community (ticks and fleas), as well as the micro-parasite prevalence within those ectoparasites (60 and 118 pools of ticks and fleas, respectively) and blood (276 cats, including 116 non-infested). Results Almost two thirds of all infested cats originated from Tanzania and Kenya. Despite the large macro-geographical variation, no consistent difference was found in ectoparasite diversity and numbers between East and West Africa. Far more flea-infested than tick-infested cats were found. The most dominant ectoparasite was Ctenocephalides felis. Among the ticks, the exophilic Haemaphysalis spp. were the commonest, including species that are not typically linked with companion animals (Haemaphysalis spinulosa and Haemaphysalis elliptica). The most prevalent pathogens found in the blood and fleas were Bartonella henselae and Mycoplasma haemofelis. In the ticks, the dog-associated Hepatozoon canis was most commonly found. A high degree of co-parasitism was found in all countries and habitats. Conclusions Our continent-wide standardized field study highlights the cat’s potential to serve as a reservoir of pathogens that can be transmitted to humans or livestock, especially when cats are expected to become more commonly kept in African villages and towns. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05436-y.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Day
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Sherry Johnson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, CBAS, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Maina Githigia
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology & Parasitology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Foluke Adedayo Akande
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | | | - Dickson Stuart Tayebwa
- Research Center for Tropical Diseases and Vector Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ortwin Aschenborn
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Ondekaremba, Namibia
| | | | - Dieter Heylen
- Eco-Epidemiology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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Gregory N, Fernandez MP, Diuk-Wasser M. Risk of tick-borne pathogen spillover into urban yards in New York City. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:288. [PMID: 35948911 PMCID: PMC9365221 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05416-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of tick-borne disease has increased dramatically in recent decades, with urban areas increasingly recognized as high-risk environments for exposure to infected ticks. Green spaces may play a key role in facilitating the invasion of ticks, hosts and pathogens into residential areas, particularly where they connect residential yards with larger natural areas (e.g. parks). However, the factors mediating tick distribution across heterogeneous urban landscapes remain poorly characterized. METHODS Using generalized linear models in a multimodel inference framework, we determined the residential yard- and local landscape-level features associated with the presence of three tick species of current and growing public health importance in residential yards across Staten Island, a borough of New York City, in the state of New York, USA. RESULTS The amount and configuration of canopy cover immediately surrounding residential yards was found to strongly predict the presence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, but not that of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Within yards, we found a protective effect of fencing against I. scapularis and A. americanum, but not against H. longicornis. For all species, the presence of log and brush piles strongly increased the odds of finding ticks in yards. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight a considerable risk of tick exposure in residential yards in Staten Island and identify both yard- and landscape-level features associated with their distribution. In particular, the significance of log and brush piles for all three species supports recommendations for yard management as a means of reducing contact with ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichar Gregory
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Maria P. Fernandez
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Maria Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
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10
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Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Muñoz-Leal S, Pinter A, Martins TF. Soft and hard ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on humans: A review of Brazilian biomes and the impact of environmental change. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106598. [PMID: 35841953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans from Brazil are scarce, with most being reported by researchers who are parasitized during their research and by professionals who work with animals. In order to compile these records, an extensive literature review was carried out. Our revision includes studies published between 1909 and 2022, including nine species of the Argasidae family and 32 species of the Ixodidae family that were reported biting humans in the six biomes of the Brazilian territory. The species with the highest number of records of human parasitism was Amblyomma sculptum, followed by Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, and Amblyomma brasiliense. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred, probably due to the greater number of inhabitants, universities, and researchers in the region; however, this does not mean that this biome is more conducive to the development of ticks and their parasitism in humans. In addition to Amblyomma ovale, a vector of Rickettsia parkeri in the country, two of the main species that act as vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, A. sculptum, and Amblyomma aureolatum, have been reported, which is quite worrying considering that the wide distribution of the species and life stages most frequently mentioned in parasitism (i.e., nymphs and adults) are the ones that favour pathogen transmission. This research provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of tick species associated with human parasitism in Brazil; however, due to environmental change potentiated by deforestation and fires, it is expected that there will be a geographic expansion of some tick species and the pathogens that use them as a vector and an increase in human parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriano Pinter
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
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11
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Hornok S, Boldogh SA, Takács N, Kontschán J, Szekeres S, Sós E, Sándor AD, Wang Y, Tuska-Szalay B. Molecular epidemiological study on ticks and tick-borne protozoan parasites (Apicomplexa: Cytauxzoon and Hepatozoon spp.) from wild cats (Felis silvestris), Mustelidae and red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in central Europe, Hungary. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:174. [PMID: 35597994 PMCID: PMC9123708 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05271-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Among live wild mammals adapted to urban and peri-urban habitats in Europe, members of the families Felidae, Mustelidae and Sciuridae deserve special attention as pathogen reservoirs because all of these families include members that are kept as pets. We report here the results of our study on two important groups of tick-borne protozoan parasites in ticks and tissues of wild cats, mustelids and red squirrels. Methods DNA was extracted from the tissues of carnivores (wild cats, mustelids; n = 16) and red squirrels (n = 4), as well as from ixodid ticks (n = 89) collected from these hosts. These DNA extracts were screened for piroplasms and Hepatozoon spp. using conventional PCR analysis and sequencing. In addition, 53 pooled samples of 259 questing Haemaphysalis concinna ticks were evaluated for the presence of Hepatozoon DNA, followed by phylogenetic analyses. Results One wild cat was found to be coinfected with Cytauxzoon europaeus and a new genotype of Hepatozoon felis, and two additional wild cats were infected with H. felis from a different phylogenetic group. In mustelids, Hepatozoon martis and two further Hepatozoon genotypes were detected. The latter clustered separately, close to others reported from eastern Asia. In addition, Hepatozoon sciuri was detected in red squirrels. Morphologic and molecular analyses verified eight tick species. One wild cat was infected with a H. felis genotype that was significantly different from that in Ixodes ricinus females infesting this cat. Only three pools of questing H. concinna nymphs tested positive for Hepatozoon, one of which contained H. martis. Conclusions This study provides the first evidence of the occurrence of any Cytauxzoon species and of three Hepatozoon species in Hungary. In addition to H. martis, two further mustelid-associated Hepatozoon genotypes were detected, one of which was new in terms of phylogenetic and broader geographical contexts. This may be the first indication that H. felis genotypes from both of its phylogenetic groups occur in Europe. This also appears to be the first evidence of H. felis and C. europaeus coinfection in felids in Europe, and of autochthonous H. felis infection in wild cats north of the Mediterranean Basin. New tick–host associations were also observed in this study. Based on the results, H. felis and H. martis might survive transstadially in I. ricinus and H. concinna, respectively. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05271-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Sándor A Boldogh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research (ELKH), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Endre Sós
- Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Barbara Tuska-Szalay
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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12
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Orlova MV, Doronin IV, Klimov PB, Anisimov NV. A review of mites and ticks parasitizing rock lizards (Lacertidae: Darevskia). J Vector Ecol 2022; 47:19-28. [PMID: 35366676 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-47.1.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Rock lizards of the genus Darevskia are interesting research models due to their asexual reproduction. Ectoparasitic mites and ticks of these lizards are poorly known, despite some of these chelicerates being vector pathogens of humans and wildlife. Here we document and curate previously known data on ectoparasitic Acari of rock lizards and, based on our extensive survey, provide an annotated list of these ectoparasitic arthropods (six tick species, one macronyssid species, and seven chigger species). We also provide new host records (Ixodes ricinus on Darevskia caucasica, D. dryada, D. mixta, and D. szczerbaki; Haemaphysalis sulcata on D. rudis; Odontacarus saxicolis on D. brauneri); and new geographical records (O. saxicolis in Russia and Georgia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Orlova
- Tyumen State Medical University, Tyumen, Russia. National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia,
| | - Igor V Doronin
- Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Pavel B Klimov
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
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13
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Rathinam B, Sidhik S. Species distribution and ecological suitability analysis for potential tick vectors of Kyasanur forest disease in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Med Vet Entomol 2022; 36:38-42. [PMID: 34558682 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) is a tick-borne zoonotic viral disease with an estimated case fatality rate of 3% to 5% in humans. The KFD virus is transmitted to both humans and animals by infected ticks, primarily the Haemaphysalis species. Our study was undertaken following reports of five confirmed cases and three deaths due to KFD in Malappuram district of Kerala in 2014 to determine the diversity of Ixodidae ticks on vegetation and their possible infection with the KFD virus. Overall, 3502 hard ticks belonging to three genera and eight species were collected from two forest divisions. Haemaphysalis was the predominant tick species (92.72%). Tick positivity for the KFD virus was 4 (5.33%) of 75 pools of ticks tested. Kyasanur forest disease viral RNA was detected from the genera Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma. The KFD virus was detected in 2 of 35 pools (5.71%) of Haemaphysalis spinigera, 1 of 30 pools (3.33%) of Haemaphysalis turturis, and 1 of 3 pools (3.33%) of Amblyomma integrum from the south forest division. The ticks reached their peak density between December and February and then decreased from the end of May. The temperature in the area ranges from 28°C to 30°C, which is suitable for tick survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sahina Sidhik
- National Institute of Virology - Kerala unit, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
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14
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Heylen D, Day M, Schunack B, Fourie J, Labuschange M, Johnson S, Githigia SM, Akande FA, Nzalawahe JS, Tayebwa DS, Aschenborn O, Marcondes M, Madder M. A community approach of pathogens and their arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) in dogs of African Sub-Sahara. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:576. [PMID: 34784947 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05014-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well-studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly in companion animals. Given the socio-economic importance of companion animals, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part of the WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. METHODS Macro-geographic variation in ectoparasite (ticks and fleas) and pathogen communities in dogs was assessed through molecular screening of approximately 100 infested dogs in each of six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Namibia), both in rural and urban settings. The most important intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors within the subpopulation of infested dogs were evaluated. RESULTS Despite the large macro-geographic variation in the dogs screened, there was no consistent difference between East and West Africa in terms of the diversity and numbers of ticks. The highest and lowest numbers of ticks were found in Nigeria and Namibia, respectively. Most often, there was a higher diversity of ticks in rural habitats than in urban habitats, although the highest diversity was observed in an urban Uganda setting. With the exception of Namibia, more fleas were collected in rural areas. We identified tick species (including Haemaphysalis spinulosa) as well as zoonotic pathogens (Coxiella burnetti, Trypanosoma spp.) that are not classically associated with companion animals. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant tick, with a preference for urban areas. Exophilic ticks, such as Haemaphysalis spp., were more often found in rural areas. Several multi-host ticks occurred in urban areas. For R. sanguineus, housing conditions and additional pets were relevant factors in terms of infestation, while for a rural tick species (Haemaphysalis elliptica), free-roaming dogs were more often infested. Tick occurrence was associated to the use of endoparasiticide, but not to the use of ectoparasiticide. The most prevalent tick-borne pathogen was Hepatozoon canis followed by Ehrlichia canis. High levels of co-parasitism were observed in all countries and habitats. CONCLUSIONS As dogs share a common environment with people, they have the potential to extend the network of pathogen transmission to humans. Our study will help epidemiologists to provide recommendations for surveillance and prevention of pathogens in dogs and humans.
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15
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Emery DL. Approaches to Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) for Theileria orientalis with an Emphasis on Immunity. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091153. [PMID: 34578185 PMCID: PMC8467331 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrated parasite management (IPM) for pests, pathogens and parasites involves reducing or breaking transmission to reduce the impact of infection or infestation. For Theileria orientalis, the critical impact of infection is the first wave of parasitaemia from the virulent genotypes, Ikeda and Chitose, associated with the sequelae from the development of anaemia. Therefore, current control measures for T. orientalis advocate excluding the movement of naïve stock from non-endemic regions into infected areas and controlling the tick Haemaphysalislongicornis, the final host. In Australia, treatment of established infection is limited to supportive therapy. To update and expand these options, this review examines progress towards prevention and therapy for T. orientalis, which are key elements for inclusion in IPM measures to control this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lyall Emery
- Sydney school of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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16
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Emery D, de Burgh S, Dinh THHH, Rolls P, Carter P. Merozoites of Theileria orientalis buffeli reduce the parasitaemia of T. orientalis ikeda following tick challenge. Vet Parasitol 2021; 298:109532. [PMID: 34325298 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Theileria orientalis is a tick-borne protozoal parasite causing anaemia and death in susceptible cattle. This investigation aimed to confirm whether immunisation with the "benign" buffeli genotype of T. orientalis could reduce the parasitaemia of the virulent ikeda genotype. Calves were inoculated intravenously or subcutaneously with bovine blood containing merozoites of T. orientalis buffeli and when recipients became positive by PCR, they and control calves were challenged with unfed nymphs of Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks infected as larvae with T. orientalis ikeda. All calves became positive for the challenge within 12 days after tick application. In the immunised calves, the first wave of parasitaemia with T. orientalis ikeda from 4 to 6 weeks was reduced significantly by >80 % before the parasite burden declined into the carrier state by 9 weeks. The parasitaemias in two calves which exhibited low infections with T. orientalis ikeda shortly after arrival, were also significantly reduced after tick challenge. The results confirm the previous studies on immunity to T. sergenti in Japan, and field experience with theileriosis in endemic zones where the carrier state appears to prevent clinical disease despite repeated, seasonal tick infestations with virulent genotypes of the parasite. This method offers a means to reduce the severity of the first wave of theilerial parasitaemia after tick challenge and possibly recover associated production losses.
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17
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Anoopkumar AN, Aneesh EM. Assessing the importance of Molecular and Genetic perspectives in Prophesying the KFD transmission risk provinces in the Western Ghats, Kerala, INDIA in context with spatial distribution, Extensive genetic Diversity, and phylogeography. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 76:101652. [PMID: 33910066 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The deadly effects of KFD have been pointed in southern India; however, the infecting regions have been getting larger in recent epochs. People who live or work in regions where KFDV infected tick vectors are present are severely prone to procuring the infection. Being aware of tick vectors and infectious agents' geospatial location is vital to direct sustenance approaches to prevent and manage such infectious diseases as KFD. The present investigation has focussed on the spatial distribution, Extensive genetic Diversity, and phylogeography to forecast the probable KFD disease risk provinces in the Western Ghats. The statistical analysis for diversity indices and community comparison has been performed by using SPSS version 24.0.0 and R software version 3.4.2. The nucleotide sequences of the respective ticks and KFDV were retrieved from NCBI. The first strand of this investigation revealed that, around the world, the Indian province was found to exhibit a maximum range of diversity for tick vectors. The next strands prophesied the KFD transmission risk areas in the Western Ghats region, India, with computational spatial analysis and phylogeography. The final strand exposed the genetic diversity of the KFD virus and the tick vectors in terms of their spatial distribution worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Anoopkumar
- Communicable Disease Research Laboratory (CDRL), Department of Zoology, St. Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda, University of Calicut, Kerala, India.
| | - Embalil Mathachan Aneesh
- Communicable Disease Research Laboratory (CDRL), Department of Zoology, St. Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda, University of Calicut, Kerala, India.
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Kassiri H, Nasirian H. New insights about human tick infestation features: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:17000-17028. [PMID: 33641105 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13102-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There are many studies that provide information regarding ticks infesting humans. However, there is no a meta-analysis about the global ranks of tick infestation rates and records, global monthly tick bites and annually and periodically trends of tick infestation rates, and the global tick infestation rates among years, mounts, regions, and countries. The study provides new insights about the above objectives in a global context and therefore performed. After a preliminary review of the 610 papers representing objective areas, 241 were selected for detailed meta-analysis. In general, the global ranks of tick species were, respectively, between 0.01-85.4% and 1-53 for human infestation rates and records. Twenty-six and sixteen tick species have more than 10% and 10 records of human tick infestation rates and records, respectively. It seems these tick species tend to be more blood-feeding on humans and as a result can be more dangerous to humans. The outcome of study demonstrated that there is no difference between seasonal human tick infestation patterns in the northern and southern hemispheres. The most global monthly mean tick bites in humans were observed in June then followed in July, August, May, and September. The global annually and periodically trends of tick infestation rates in humans exhibited decreasing trends over the past decades suggesting the preventive measure to prohibit human tick infestation have been successful. It seems that the ranks of tick infestation rates and records in humans may be as two indexes to illustrate the degree of importance of tick infesting humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Kassiri
- Department of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hassan Nasirian
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Saleh MN, Allen KE, Lineberry MW, Little SE, Reichard MV. Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission. Vet Parasitol 2021; 294:109392. [PMID: 33971481 PMCID: PMC9235321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions. In this review, we provide a summary of the complex and diverse life histories, distinct morphologies, and questing and feeding behaviors of the more common ticks of dogs and cats in North America with a focus on recent changes in geographic distribution. We also review pathogens of dogs and cats associated with the different tick species, some of which can cause serious, potentially fatal disease, and describe the zoonotic risk posed by ticks of pets. Understanding the natural history of ticks and the maintenance cycles responsible for providing an ongoing source of tick-borne infections is critical to effectively combatting the challenges ticks pose to the health of pets and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States.
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
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Ogata S, Mohamed WMA, Kusakisako K, Thu MJ, Qiu Y, Moustafa MAM, Matsuno K, Katakura K, Nonaka N, Nakao R. Spiroplasma Infection among Ixodid Ticks Exhibits Species Dependence and Suggests a Vertical Pattern of Transmission. Microorganisms 2021; 9:333. [PMID: 33567677 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Spiroplasma are Gram-positive bacteria without cell walls. Some Spiroplasma species can cause disease in arthropods such as bees, whereas others provide their host with resistance to pathogens. Ticks also harbour Spiroplasma, but their role has not been elucidated yet. Here, the infection status and genetic diversity of Spiroplasma in ticks were investigated using samples collected from different geographic regions in Japan. A total of 712 ticks were tested for Spiroplasma infection by PCR targeting 16S rDNA, and Spiroplasma species were genetically characterized based on 16S rDNA, ITS, dnaA, and rpoB gene sequences. A total of 109 samples originating from eight tick species were positive for Spiroplasma infection, with infection rates ranging from 0% to 84% depending on the species. A linear mixed model indicated that tick species was the primary factor associated with Spiroplasma infection. Moreover, certain Spiroplasma alleles that are highly adapted to specific tick species may explain the high infection rates in Ixodes ovatus and Haemaphysalis kitaokai. A comparison of the alleles obtained suggests that horizontal transmission between tick species may not be a frequent event. These findings provide clues to understand the transmission cycle of Spiroplasma species in wild tick populations and their roles in host ticks.
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21
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Martínez-Sánchez ET, Cardona-Romero M, Ortiz-Giraldo M, Tobón-Escobar WD, Moreno-López D, Ossa-López PA, Pérez-Cárdenas JE, Labruna MB, Martins TF, Castaño-Villa GJ, Rivera-Páez FA. Rickettsia spp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from wild birds in Caldas, Colombia. Acta Trop 2021; 213:105733. [PMID: 33159903 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Several bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are recognized as causal agents of diseases in domestic and wild animals and humans. These bacteria are considered emerging or reemerging and are transmitted by ticks, fleas, and lice vectors. In recent decades, there have been reports of rickettsias in ticks of the genus Amblyomma, Ixodes, and Haemaphysalis collected from wild birds. Accordingly, birds play a plausible role in the transport and spread of ticks infected by Rickettsia spp. In this study, we performed molecular detection of Rickettsia species in ticks collected from wild birds in the department of Caldas, Colombia. We detected and identified Rickettsia amblyommatis, 'Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi' and a Rickettsia sp. closely related to 'Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae' and Rickettsia canadensis. This study contributes to the knowledge on infection by Rickettsia in ticks collected from wild birds in Colombia. We also provide the first reports of infection by R. amblyommatis in the genus Ixodes collected from wild birds in South America and the presence of Rickettsia at elevations above 3000 m a.s.l.
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Hussain-Yusuf H, Stenos J, Vincent G, Shima A, Abell S, Preece ND, Tadepalli M, Hii SF, Bowie N, Mitram K, Graves S. Screening for Rickettsia, Coxiella and Borrelia Species in Ticks from Queensland, Australia. Pathogens 2020; 9:E1016. [PMID: 33276564 PMCID: PMC7761571 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9121016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick bites in Australia are linked to the transmission of a variety of infectious diseases in humans, livestock and wildlife. Despite this recognition, little is currently known about the variety of potential pathogens that are carried and transmitted by Australian ticks. In this study, we attempted to expand knowledge of Australian tick-borne bacterial pathogens by analyzing various tick species from the state of Queensland for potential human pathogens belonging to the Rickettsia, Coxiella and Borrelia genera. A total of 203 ticks, comprising of four genera and nine different tick species, were screened by specific qPCR assays. An overall Rickettsia qPCR positivity of 6.4% (13/203) was detected with rickettsial DNA found in four tick species (Ixodes holocyclus, I. tasmani, Amblyommatriguttatum, and Haemaphysalis longicornis). Amplification and analysis of several rickettsial genes from rickettsial qPCR positive samples identified sequences closely related to but genetically distinct from several previously described cultured and uncultured rickettsial species in the Rickettsia spotted fever subgroup. No ticks were positive for either Coxiella or Borrelia DNA. This work suggests that a further diversity of rickettsiae remain to be described in Australian ticks with the full importance of these bacteria to human and animal health yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazizul Hussain-Yusuf
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
| | - Gemma Vincent
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
| | - Amy Shima
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Townsville 4611, Queensland, Australia; (A.S.); (N.D.P.)
| | - Sandra Abell
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, James Cook University, Townsville 4611, Queensland, Australia; (S.A.); (N.B.); (K.M.)
| | - Noel D. Preece
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Townsville 4611, Queensland, Australia; (A.S.); (N.D.P.)
- Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0815, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Mythili Tadepalli
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
| | - Sze Fui Hii
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
| | - Naomi Bowie
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, James Cook University, Townsville 4611, Queensland, Australia; (S.A.); (N.B.); (K.M.)
| | - Kate Mitram
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, James Cook University, Townsville 4611, Queensland, Australia; (S.A.); (N.B.); (K.M.)
| | - Stephen Graves
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong University Hospital, Geelong 3216, Victoria, Australia; (H.H.-Y.); (G.V.); (M.T.); (S.F.H.); (S.G.)
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nepean Hospital, NSW Health Pathology, Penrith 2747, New South Wales, Australia
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Ghafar A, Khan A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Gauci CG, Niaz S, Ayaz S, Mateos-Hernández L, Galon C, Nasreen N, Moutailler S, Gasser RB, Jabbar A. An Assessment of the Molecular Diversity of Ticks and Tick-Borne Microorganisms of Small Ruminants in Pakistan. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091428. [PMID: 32957540 PMCID: PMC7563897 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated ticks and tick-borne microorganisms of small ruminants from five districts of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan. Morphological (n = 104) and molecular (n = 54) characterization of the ticks revealed the presence of six ixodid ticks: Rhipicephalus (Rh.) haemaphysaloides, Rh. microplus, Rh. turanicus, Haemaphysalis (Hs.) punctata, Hs. sulcata and Hyalomma anatolicum. Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequence data for two mitochondrial (16S and cytochrome c oxidase 1) and one nuclear (second internal transcribed spacer) DNA regions provided strong support for the grouping of the six tick species identified in this study. Microfluidic real-time PCR, employing multiple pre-validated nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, detected 11 potential pathogens and endosymbionts in 72.2% of the ticks (n = 54) tested. Rickettsia (R.) massiliae was the most common pathogen found (42.6% of ticks) followed by Theileria spp. (33.3%), Anaplasma (A.) ovis and R. slovaca (25.9% each). Anaplasma centrale, A. marginale, Ehrlichia spp., R. aeschlimannii, R. conorii and endosymbionts (Francisella- and Coxiella-like) were detected at much lower rates (1.9–22.2%) in ticks. Ticks from goats (83.9%) carried significantly higher microorganisms than those from sheep (56.5%). This study demonstrates that ticks of small ruminants from the FATA are carrying multiple microorganisms of veterinary and medical health significance and provides the basis for future investigations of ticks and tick-borne diseases of animals and humans in this and neighboring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Ghafar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Adil Khan
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Charles G. Gauci
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Sadaf Niaz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Sultan Ayaz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Clemence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Nasreen Nasreen
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Martínez-Sánchez ET, Cardona-Romero M, Ortiz-Giraldo M, Tobón-Escobar WD, López DM, Ossa-López PA, Pérez-Cárdenas JE, Labruna MB, Martins TF, Rivera-Páez FA, Castaño-Villa GJ. Associations between wild birds and hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101534. [PMID: 32993943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Ticks of the family Ixodidae are vectors of important pathogens in human and animal health. Birds are involved in long-distance transport and dispersion of hard ticks. Tick infestations on wild birds mostly involve species within the genera Amblyomma, Ixodes, and Haemaphysalis. In Colombia, tick research is scarce and there are no studies to date about the associations between wild birds and ticks. We aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the associations between wild birds and hard ticks based on the collection of 2314 wild birds belonging to 29 families in Caldas - Colombia between 2015 and 2019. In total, we collected 133 hard ticks that were found parasitizing 78 birds representing 45 species and 14 wild bird families. We report at least seven tick species on birds confirmed by morphological and molecular methods: Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma varium, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma calcaratum and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. In addition, we recorded three Ixodes species, which yielded DNA sequences that did not have high identity (≤ 95 %) to any species in GenBank. Ticks were found infesting resident and migratory boreal birds. This is the first study addressing the associations between wild birds and hard ticks in Colombia. We describe new associations between birds and ticks in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefani T Martínez-Sánchez
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marelid Cardona-Romero
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Mateo Ortiz-Giraldo
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - William David Tobón-Escobar
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Daniel Moreno López
- Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Paula A Ossa-López
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia; Doctorado en Ciencias - Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Jorge E Pérez-Cárdenas
- Grupo de Investigación Biosalud, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas para la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
| | - Gabriel J Castaño-Villa
- Grupo de Investigación GEBIOME, Departamento de Desarrollo Rural y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A. 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
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25
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Ramirez DG, Luz HR, Muñoz-Leal S, Flausino W, Acosta ICL, Martins TF, Peckle M, Santos HF, Furusawa GP, Labruna MB, Faccini JLH. Immature ticks on wild birds and the molecular detection of a novel Rickettsia strain in the Ibitipoca State Park, southeastern Brazil. Exp Appl Acarol 2020; 81:457-467. [PMID: 32643110 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Birds are recognized hosts of ticks, especially for the immature stages which may harbor various species and strains of Rickettsia. To explore landscapes inhabited by birds and their ticks would expand the knowledge on host-parasite relationships and the rickettsiae. The aim of this paper was to record the diversity of ticks collected on wild birds and assess the phylogenetic position of a novel Rickettsia strain detected in immature ticks. Birds were captured in the Ibitipoca State Park, located in the Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil, as part of a long-term research project on the ecology of ticks, birds and Rickettsia. We found three tick species parasitizing birds: Amblyomma aureolatum (63 larvae, 10 nymphs), Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (28 larvae, seven nymphs) and Amblyomma romarioi (27 larvae). Among these, A. aureolatum was the most abundant species including 54% (73/135) of the collected ticks. New tick-host records were: A. romarioi on Turdus amaurochalinus and H. leporispalustris on Thamnophilus caerulescens, Saltator similis and Zonotrichia capensis. Of the 82 ticks tested for Rickettsia spp. by PCR, two larvae (2.5%) of A. romarioi were infected with 'Candidatus Rickettsia paranaensis', a novel putative Rickettsia species closely related to Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia sibirica and Rickettsia parkeri, as corroborated by our phylogenetic analysis. Finally, we present a list of all records of immature stages of H. leporispalustris on passerine birds in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego G Ramirez
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Hermes R Luz
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Patologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biotecnologia Do Renorbio, Ponto Focal Maranhão, Universidade Federal Do Maranhão, São Luiz, MA, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Walter Flausino
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Igor C L Acosta
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maristela Peckle
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Helio F Santos
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Guilherme P Furusawa
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João L H Faccini
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
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26
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Kim JY, Kwak YS, Lee IY, Yong TS. Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii in Haemaphysalis Ticks in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2020; 58:327-331. [PMID: 32615747 PMCID: PMC7338900 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.3.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii are intracellular protozoa that can cause neurological disease or death in fetuses and even in immunocompromised human adults. Ticks are recognized as vectors of many microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Recent studies detected T. gondii in various tick species in many countries. In this study, we performed PCR detection of the T. gondii B1 gene from Haemaphysalis ticks collected from vegetation in 4 localities, Wonju, Gunsan, Miryang, and Yangsan, in Korea. We analyzed DNA from 314 ticks (268 Haemaphysalis longicornis and 46 Haemaphysalis flava) and the B1 gene of T. gondii was detected in 13 of these. The detection of T. gondii in ticks differed significantly by region (P=0.021). T. gondii was detected in the following percentages of collected ticks: 3.7% (7 of 189) in Gunsan, 10% (5 of 50) in Wonju, 16.7% (1 of 6) in Yangsan, and 0% (0 of 69) in Miryang. The detection of T. gondii in ticks was not associated with tick species or development stage. This is the first report of T. gondii detection in ticks in Korea. Our results provide important information necessary to understand toxoplasmosis transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Yeong Kim
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - You Shine Kwak
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - In-Yong Lee
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Tai-Soon Yong
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
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27
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Costa FB, Martins TF, Muñoz-Leal S, de Azevedo Serpa MC, Ogrzewalska M, Luz HR, Barros-Battesti DM, de Carvalho Mesquita ETK, da Costa AP, de Maria Seabra Nogueira R, Labruna MB. Retrospective and new records of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) from the state of Maranhão, an Amazon-Cerrado transition area of Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 21:100413. [PMID: 32862893 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Brazilian state of Maranhão is located in a transition area of the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, where there is a rich fauna of vertebrates. This study aimed to update the list of the ticks occurring in Maranhão, through a compilation of literature records and examination of three tick collections, plus the addition of unpublished collections of ticks from road-killed animals during recent years. Our results indicate that the tick fauna of Maranhão includes 26 species: seven in the family Argasidae (Antricola guglielmonei, Argas miniatus, Ornithodoros cavernicolous, Ornithodoros hasei, Ornithodoros mimon, Ornithodoros rietcorreai and Ornithodoros rudis); and 19 in the family Ixodidae (Amblyomma auricularium-provisional, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma geayi, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma naponense, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma triste, Dermacentor nitens, Ixodes luciae, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato). Eleven of the above species are reported for the first time in Maranhão. We consider previous reports of Ornithodoros talaje and Amblyomma pseudoconcolor in Maranhão as misidentification with O. hasei and A. auricularium, respectively. Until 1958, only 11 tick species were reported in Maranhão, with no additional reports until 2009. During 2010-2019, 15 additional species were reported. We also highlight the importance of ticks for public and veterinary health in Maranhão.
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Thompson AT, Dominguez K, Cleveland CA, Dergousoff SJ, Doi K, Falco RC, Greay T, Irwin P, Lindsay LR, Liu J, Mather TN, Oskam CL, Rodriguez-Vivas RI, Ruder MG, Shaw D, Vigil SL, White S, Yabsley MJ. Molecular Characterization of Haemaphysalis Species and a Molecular Genetic Key for the Identification of Haemaphysalis of North America. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:141. [PMID: 32232062 PMCID: PMC7082797 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae), the Asian longhorned tick, is native to East Asia, but has become established in Australia and New Zealand, and more recently in the United States. In North America, there are other native Haemaphysalis species that share similar morphological characteristics and can be difficult to identify if the specimen is damaged. The goal of this study was to develop a cost-effective and rapid molecular diagnostic assay to differentiate between exotic and native Haemaphysalis species to aid in ongoing surveillance of H. longicornis within the United States and help prevent misidentification. We demonstrated that restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) can be used to differentiate H. longicornis from the other Haemaphysalis species found in North America. Furthermore, we show that this RFLP assay can be applied to Haemaphysalis species endemic to other regions of the world for the rapid identification of damaged specimens. The work presented in this study can serve as the foundation for region specific PCR-RFLP keys for Haemaphysalis and other tick species and can be further applied to other morphometrically challenging taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec T. Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Kristen Dominguez
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Christopher A. Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Shaun J. Dergousoff
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kandai Doi
- Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Japan
| | - Richard C. Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY, United States
| | - Telleasha Greay
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Peter Irwin
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - L. Robbin Lindsay
- Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jingze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Thomas N. Mather
- Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Roger I. Rodriguez-Vivas
- Campus of Biology and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, National Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Mark G. Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - David Shaw
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Stacey L. Vigil
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Seth White
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Marendy D, Baker K, Emery D, Rolls P, Stutchbury R. Haemaphysalis longicornis: the life-cycle on dogs and cattle, with confirmation of its vector status for Theileria orientalis in Australia. Vet Parasitol 2019; 277S:100022. [PMID: 32904744 PMCID: PMC7458380 DOI: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2019.100022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Conditions for the optimal generation interval for the “bush tick”, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Australia have been determined. Stabilates containing infective sporozoites of Theileria orientalis ikeda were produced from ground-up ticks (GUTS) and salivary glands of H.longicornis. Sporozoites of Theileria orientalis required around 3–5 days of tick feeding to mature in salivary glands before transmission occurred (like T.parva). GUTS and salivary gland stabilates produced detectable infections with T.orientalis in naive calves around 3–4 weeks after inoculation. This study confirms the final host status of H.longicornis for T.orientalis in Australia, facilitating research for prophylaxis and vector control.
The intracellular protozoal parasite Theileria orientalis ikeda has rapidly spread across South-eastern Australia since 2006, causing deaths and production losses in cattle. The 3-host “bush tick” Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) appears the principal biological vector in the endemic regions. To generate sufficient numbers of ticks to produce stabilate for infection to confirm vector competency and for acaricide trials, the optimal conditions and stage-specific intervals for the generational life-cycle of H.longicornis was defined on two dogs and two steers. To determine whether H.longicornis was a definitive host for Theileria orientalis, nymphal stages were fed on a steer infected with T.orientalis and moulted adults were permitted to feed for 3 days on an uninfected calf prior to harvest. Subsequent detection of infection after inoculation of four naïve calves with stabilate produced from ground-up adult ticks or dissected salivary glands confirmed H.longicornis as one final (definitive) host for T.orientalis in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Marendy
- Elanco Animal Health, Yarrandoo Research and Development Centre, New South Wales 2178, Australia
| | - Kim Baker
- Elanco Animal Health, Yarrandoo Research and Development Centre, New South Wales 2178, Australia
| | - David Emery
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
| | - Peter Rolls
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Tick Fever Centre, Wacol, Queensland 4076, Australia
| | - Ralph Stutchbury
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia
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Sahara A, Nugraheni YR, Patra G, Prastowo J, Priyowidodo D. Ticks ( Acari: Ixodidae) infestation on cattle in various regions in Indonesia. Vet World 2019; 12:1755-1759. [PMID: 32009753 PMCID: PMC6925042 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.1755-1759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Ticks (Ixodidae) not only cause blood loss in cattle but also serve as vectors for various diseases, thus causing direct and indirect losses. Moreover, tick infestation can cause significant economic losses. This study aimed to identify the diverse species of ticks infesting cattle in five different regions in Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Tick specimens were obtained from local cattle in five different areas in Indonesia. The morphology of the specimens was macroscopically and microscopically evaluated, and the resulting data were descriptively and qualitatively analyzed. Results: In total, 1575 ticks were successfully collected from 26 animals. In total, two genera and three species, namely, Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Rhipicephalus pilans, were identified. The cattle in Yogyakarta and Riau were infested by H. bispinosa, while the cattle in Sukabumi, Bali, and Lombok were infested by R. microplus and R. pilans. The level of infestation varied among regions, with R. microplus being the most commonly found species. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that cattle in different regions of Indonesia were infested by variable numbers of tick species. In particular, the cattle in Yogyakarta and Riau were solely infested by H. bispinosa; this is a new finding in terms of the distribution of tick species in the country. Increased tick infestation in cattle decreases productivity and causes health problems; therefore, it deserves serious attention. Our findings can help in the formulation of an effective strategy for controlling and preventing cattle tick infestation in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sahara
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Gautam Patra
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Joko Prastowo
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Priyowidodo
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Chicana B, Couper LI, Kwan JY, Tahiraj E, Swei A. Comparative Microbiome Profiles of Sympatric Tick Species from the Far-Western United States. Insects 2019; 10:E353. [PMID: 31635285 PMCID: PMC6836157 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Insight into the composition and function of the tick microbiome has expanded considerably in recent years. Thus far, tick microbiome studies have focused on species and life stages that are responsible for transmitting disease. In this study we conducted extensive field sampling of six tick species in the far-western United States to comparatively examine the microbial composition of sympatric tick species: Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes angustus, Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor occidentalis, Dermacentor albipictus, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. These species represent both common vectors of disease and species that rarely encounter humans, exhibiting a range of host preferences and natural history. We found significant differences in microbial species diversity and composition by tick species and life stage. The microbiome of most species examined were dominated by a few primary endosymbionts. Across all species, the relative abundance of these endosymbionts increased with life stage while species richness and diversity decreased with development. Only one species, I. angustus, did not show the presence of a single dominant microbial species indicating the unique physiology of this species or its interaction with the surrounding environment. Tick species that specialize in a small number of host species or habitat ranges exhibited lower microbiome diversity, suggesting that exposure to environmental conditions or host blood meal diversity can affect the tick microbiome which in turn may affect pathogen transmission. These findings reveal important associations between ticks and their microbial community and improve our understanding of the function of non-pathogenic microbiomes in tick physiology and pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsabel Chicana
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
| | - Lisa I Couper
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Jessica Y Kwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Enxhi Tahiraj
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.
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32
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Vandegrift KJ, Kapoor A. The Ecology of New Constituents of the Tick Virome and Their Relevance to Public Health. Viruses 2019; 11:v11060529. [PMID: 31181599 PMCID: PMC6630940 DOI: 10.3390/v11060529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of several pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and their geographic ranges are expanding. The exposure of ticks to new hosts in a rapidly changing environment is likely to further increase the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne diseases. Although ticks are known to transmit bacteria and viruses, most studies of tick-borne disease have focused upon Lyme disease, which is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Until recently, ticks were considered as the vectors of a few viruses that can infect humans and animals, such as Powassan, Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses. Interestingly, however, several new studies undertaken to reveal the etiology of unknown human febrile illnesses, or to describe the virome of ticks collected in different countries, have uncovered a plethora of novel viruses in ticks. Here, we compared the virome compositions of ticks from different countries and our analysis indicates that the global tick virome is dominated by RNA viruses. Comparative phylogenetic analyses of tick viruses from these different countries reveals distinct geographical clustering of the new tick viruses. Some of these new tick RNA viruses (notably severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and Heartland virus) were found to be associated with serious human diseases. Their relevance to public health remains unknown. It is plausible that most of these newly identified tick viruses are of endogenous origin or are restricted in their transmission potential, but the efforts to identify new tick viruses should continue. Indeed, future research aimed at defining the origin, the ecology and the spillover potential of this novel viral biodiversity will be critical to understand the relevance to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt J Vandegrift
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
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33
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Medlock JM, Hansford KM, Vaux AGC, Cull B, Pietzsch ME, Gillingham EL, Johnson N, Phipps LP. Has the red sheep tick, Haemaphysalis punctata, recently expanded its range in England? Med Vet Entomol 2018; 32:473-480. [PMID: 30194860 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The red sheep tick, Haemaphysalis punctata (Ixodida: Ixodidae), has been reported as present in the U.K. for more than a century; however, very little has been written about its distribution. In recent years, numbers of detections of this tick species reported to the Public Health England (PHE) Tick Surveillance Scheme have increased. This rise in the number of records may be attributable to increased tick surveillance activities or to the increased distribution of this species of tick in parts of England. This paper reviews published reports of H. punctata and all data held by the Biological Records Centre and PHE, and summarizes a number of field studies conducted by PHE and the Animal and Plant Health Agency over the past 8 years. It would appear from the evidence presented here that H. punctata may be expanding its range across the eastern part of the South Downs National Park, where there have also been reports of this tick species biting humans. It is possible that the movement of sheep between grassland sites is facilitating this spread. Further studies that better elucidate the ecology of this tick and its possible role as a vector of human and veterinary diseases are now warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Salisbury, U.K
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Salisbury, U.K
| | - K M Hansford
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Salisbury, U.K
| | - A G C Vaux
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
| | - B Cull
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
| | - M E Pietzsch
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
| | - E L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, U.K
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Salisbury, U.K
| | - N Johnson
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, U.K
| | - L P Phipps
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, U.K
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Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Apanaskevich DA, Mumcuoglu KY, Steinman A. Species distribution and seasonal dynamics of equine tick infestation in two Mediterranean climate niches in Israel. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:546. [PMID: 30326955 PMCID: PMC6192331 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3093-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks are important ectoparasites of horses that can affect animal welfare and vector several infectious, including zoonotic, diseases. In order to investigate the species distribution, epidemiology and seasonal dynamics of ticks infesting horses in Israel, 3267 ticks were collected from 396 horses in 24 farms across the country from July 2014 to June 2015. Results Ticks were found on 50% of the farms and on 25% of the horses, with Hyalomma being the most prevalent genus (70% of ticks). Pasture was the most prominent risk factor for tick infestation (99% of ticks, P < 0.001), and is represented here by two areas with a Mediterranean climate that differ in their environmental characteristics: the Golan Heights (GH, 74% of ticks); and the Carmel mountain ridge (CMR, 24%). Although these two sites are less than 100 km apart, the composition of the tick populations infesting horses differed significantly between them. In GH the most abundant tick species was Hyalomma excavatum (P < 0.001), while in CMR it was Hyalomma marginatum (P < 0.001). The GH also hosted a more diverse tick fauna than the CMR, including Haemaphysalis parva (peaking in the autumn, P < 0.001) and Rhipicephalus turanicus (peaking in the spring, P < 0.001), which were not found at the other sites. A few Rhipicephalus bursa, Hyalomma rufipes and Hyalomma turanicum were also found on horses. Conclusions The current findings can be used in epidemiological studies assessing the risk of tick-borne equine diseases in the area. Further analysis is needed to determine the specific distribution and habitat preferences of each tick species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3093-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Tirosh-Levy
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yuval Gottlieb
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- United States National Tick Collection, James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute of Coastal Plain Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
| | - Kosta Y Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetic, The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amir Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Kusakisako K, Ido A, Masatani T, Morokuma H, Hernandez EP, Talactac MR, Yoshii K, Tanaka T. Transcriptional activities of two newly identified Haemaphysalis longicornis tick-derived promoter regions in the Ixodes scapularis tick cell line (ISE6). Insect Mol Biol 2018; 27:590-602. [PMID: 29663614 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites considered to be second to mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases and the most important vector for animals. Despite efforts to control tick infestations, they remain a serious health problem. Gene manipulation has been established in mosquitoes and led to the control of mosquito populations and of mosquito-borne pathogens. Therefore, gene manipulation could be useful for controlling ticks and tick-borne pathogens. To investigate effective gene expression vectors for ticks, the promoter activities of commercial plasmids were evaluated in a tick cell line (ISE6). Dual luciferase assays revealed that pmirGLO, the human phosphoglycerate kinase promoter contained plasmid vector, showed the highest activity in ISE6 cells amongst the tested plasmids. Moreover, we identified the promoter regions of the Haemaphysalis longicornis actin (HlAct) and the intracellular ferritin (HlFer1) genes. To construct a more effective expression vector for ticks, these promoter regions were inserted into pmirGLO (pmirGLO-HlAct pro and pmirGLO-HlFer1 pro). The pmirGLO-HlAct pro vector showed significantly higher promoter activity than pmirGLO, whereas the pmirGLO-HlFer1 pro vector demonstrated significantly lower promoter activity than pmirGLO in ISE6 cells. The HlAct promoter region may have high promoter activity in ISE6 cells. The results of the present study provide useful information for the development of a genetic modification system in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kusakisako
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - A Ido
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - T Masatani
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - H Morokuma
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - E P Hernandez
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - M R Talactac
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Clinical and Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Cavite, Philippines
| | - K Yoshii
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - T Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan
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Klein A, Zimmermann E, Radespiel U, Schaarschmidt F, Springer A, Strube C. Ectoparasite communities of small-bodied Malagasy primates: seasonal and socioecological influences on tick, mite and lice infestation of Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis in northwestern Madagascar. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:459. [PMID: 30089527 PMCID: PMC6083607 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3034-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ectoparasitic infections are of particular interest for endangered wildlife, as ectoparasites are potential vectors for inter- and intraspecific pathogen transmission and may be indicators to assess the health status of endangered populations. Here, ectoparasite dynamics in sympatric populations of two Malagasy mouse lemur species, Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis, were investigated over an 11-month period. Furthermore, the animals' body mass was determined as an indicator of body condition, reflecting seasonal and environmental challenges. Living in sympatry, the two study species experience the same environmental conditions, but show distinct differences in socioecology: Microcebus murinus sleeps in tree holes, either solitarily (males) or sometimes in groups (females only), whereas M. ravelobensis sleeps in mixed-sex groups in more open vegetation. RESULTS Both mouse lemur species hosted ticks (Haemaphysalis sp.), lice (Lemurpediculus sp.) and mites (Trombiculidae gen. sp. and Laelaptidae gen. sp.). Host species, as well as temporal variations (month and year), were identified as the main factors influencing infestation. Tick infestation peaked in the late dry season and was significantly more often observed in M. murinus (P = 0.011), while lice infestation was more likely in M. ravelobensis (P < 0.001) and showed a continuous increase over the course of the dry season. Genetic analyses identified Lemurpediculus sp. infesting both mouse lemur species. Ticks morphologically conform to H. lemuris, but genetic analysis showed a clear differentiation of the specimens collected in this study, suggesting a potentially new tick species. Host body mass decreased from the early to the late dry season, indicating nutritional stress during this period, which may render individuals more susceptible to parasitic infections. CONCLUSIONS Seasonal differences and species-specific variations in sleeping site ecology in terms of sleeping site type and sociality were determined as key factors influencing ectoparasitism in M. murinus and M. ravelobensis. This needs to be taken into account when evaluating ectoparasite infestations at a given time point. The detection of the same parasite species on two closely related and sympatric host species furthermore indicates a potential pathway for disease transmission, not only within but also between lemur species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Klein
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Frank Schaarschmidt
- Institute of Biostatistics, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
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Taylor AJ, Vongphayloth K, Vongsouvath M, Grandadam M, Brey PT, Newton PN, Sutherland IW, Dittrich S. Large-Scale Survey for Tickborne Bacteria, Khammouan Province, Laos. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 22:1635-9. [PMID: 27532491 PMCID: PMC4994350 DOI: 10.3201/eid2209.151969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We screened 768 tick pools containing 6,962 ticks from Khammouan Province, Laos, by using quantitative real-time PCR and identified Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Borrelia spp. Sequencing of Rickettsia spp.–positive and Borrelia spp.–positive pools provided evidence for distinct genotypes. Our results identified bacteria with human disease potential in ticks in Laos.
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Ernieenor FCL, Ernna G, Mariana A. Phenotypic and genotypic identification of hard ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Exp Appl Acarol 2017; 71:387-400. [PMID: 28409404 PMCID: PMC5437174 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0120-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Morphotaxonomy based on phenotypic traits of immature hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) is a skill challenge and has prompted many inexperienced acarologists to adopt DNA-based methods for identifying and discriminating the species. The aim of this study is therefore to utilize COI gene for verifying the morphological status of Haemaphysalis ticks in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 19 on-host ticks collected from four localities were first identified using specific illustrated taxonomic keys that lead to the genus of Haemaphysalis. Genotypic traits of tick species were then verified molecularly based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Clustering analysis was carried out by constructing a phylogenetic tree to determine the genetic variation and diversity of local Haemaphysalis ticks. Based on external morphological characterizations, all immature ticks were successfully identified down to the genus level only. Molecular analysis of the genotypic using COI gene revealed 16 individuals (84%) as Haemaphysalis hystricis, and three individuals as H. humerosa with sequence homology of 97-99 and 86-87%, respectively. Haemaphysalis hystricis were clustered in their respective monophyletic group in the phylogeny trees with a bootstrap of 100%. Furthermore, a low intraspecific variation (<0.3%) was observed among Malaysian H. hystricis but high interspecific value (>15%) recorded. This study morphologically and molecularly confirms the presence of H. hystricis in Malaysia and the findings will add value to the existing knowledge in identification of ticks in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C L Ernieenor
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - G Ernna
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - A Mariana
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Michelet L, Joncour G, Devillers E, Torina A, Vayssier-Taussat M, Bonnet SI, Moutailler S. Tick species, tick-borne pathogens and symbionts in an insular environment off the coast of Western France. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1109-1115. [PMID: 27622976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Insular environments provide ideal natural conditions to study disease ecology, especially emerging diseases, due to clear differentiation between local and long-distance transmission. Such environments are of particular interest regarding tick-borne pathogens (TBP), since animal exchange with the mainland (along with any ticks they carry) is limited, and because such locations could lie on migratory routes for birds carrying ticks. Therefore both tick species and TBP may display different prevalence than those observed on the continent. As such, an epidemiological survey was performed on Belle-Ile-en-Mer, an island off the coast of Western France, in order to estimate the prevalence of tick species and the microorganisms they carried. Three tick species, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata were collected at five different sites in 2010 and 2011. All ticks were tested for pathogen's and symbiont's DNA by (i) PCR for Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp.; (ii) real-time PCR for Francisella tularensis, Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLE) and Coxiella spp. and (iii) PCR-RLB for Babesia-Theileria spp. Pathogen DNA detected in D. marginatus including Borrelia spp. (18%), Rickettsia spp. (13%) which was identified as R. slovaca, Babesia spp. (8%), and Theileria spp. (1%). Pathogens detected in D. reticulatus including Rickettsia spp. (31%) identified as R. raoulti, Francisella-like endosymbiont (86%), and Babesia spp (21%). Pathogens detected in H. punctata including Rickettsia spp. (1%) identified as R. aeschlimannii, FLE (0.4%), Babesia spp. (18%), and Theileria spp. (7%). Anaplasma spp., F. tularensis, or Coxiella spp. were not detected in any of the collected ticks. This study represents the first epidemiological survey of the insular Belle-Ile-en-Mer environment. It demonstrated the presence of expected pathogens, consistent with reports from island veterinarians or physicians, as well as unexpected pathogens, raising questions about their potential introduction through infected animals and/or their dispersion by migratory birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Michelet
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons Alfort cedex, France
| | - Guy Joncour
- Technical Veterinary Groups National Society (SNGTV), 2, Kervellan, Callac, France
| | - Elodie Devillers
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons Alfort cedex, France
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Dipartimento Sanità Interprovinciale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons Alfort cedex, France
| | - Sarah I Bonnet
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons Alfort cedex, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons Alfort cedex, France.
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Biglari P, Chinikar S, Belqeiszadeh H, Telmadarraiy Z, Mostafavi E, Ghaffari M, Javaherizadeh S, Nowotny N, Fooks AR, Shahhosseini N. Phylogeny of tick-derived Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains in Iran. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1216-1221. [PMID: 27491289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The presence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Iran was assessed by collecting ticks from Golpayegan, Isfahan Province. Real time RT-PCR was used to detect the CCHFV RNA in the tick population and the origins of the viral sequences were determined. The CCHFV RNA was detected in 5.2% of 492 ticks collected from livestock in different regions of Golpayegan. The tick species that tested positive for the presence of CCHFV RNA included Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis species. Phylogenetic analysis using the partial S-segment indicated that eight sequences clustered in clade IV (Asia-1) and three other sequences aligned within clade VI (Europe) with other CCHFV strains from Kosovo (Kosova1917) and Russia (Kashmanov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyvand Biglari
- Faculty of Modern Medical Science, Biology Biosystematic department, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Science Branch, Iran.
| | | | - Hamid Belqeiszadeh
- Faculty of Modern Medical Science, Biology Biosystematic department, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Science Branch, Iran
| | - Zakkyeh Telmadarraiy
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Siavash Javaherizadeh
- Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Iran
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK; Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nariman Shahhosseini
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhard Nocht Strasse 74, Hamburg, Germany.
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Kar S, Akyildiz G, Yilmazer N, Shaibi T, Gargili A, Vatansever Z. External morphological anomalies in ixodid ticks from Thrace, Turkey. Exp Appl Acarol 2015; 67:457-466. [PMID: 26264155 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9948-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Of 18,667 ticks examined, 33 specimens from species identified as Haemaphysalis parva, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. scupense, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rh. turanicus were found to have external morphological anomalies. Anomalous Ha. parva, Hy. scupence and Rh. turanicus were reported in this study for the first time. General anomalies manifested as asymmetry and deformations of the idiosoma, whereas local anomalies occurred in legs, exoskeleton, spiracular, adanal, subanal and accessory plates, mouthparts and capitulum. With this study describing a gynandromorphic Hy. marginatum, the number of gynandromorphic tick cases has been raised to two in Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirri Kar
- Department of Biology, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
| | - Gurkan Akyildiz
- Department of Biology, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
| | - Nadim Yilmazer
- Department of Biology, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
| | - Taher Shaibi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tripoli University, Tripoli, Libya
| | - Aysen Gargili
- Faculty of Health Science, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zati Vatansever
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey
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Khasnatinov MA, Liapunov AV, Manzarova EL, Kulakova NV, Petrova IV, Danchinova GA. The diversity and prevalence of hard ticks attacking human hosts in Eastern Siberia (Russian Federation) with first description of invasion of non-endemic tick species. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:501-10. [PMID: 26443685 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4766-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hard ticks are the vectors of many pathogens including tick-borne encephalitis virus and the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. In Eastern Siberia, Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor nuttalli, Dermacentor silvarum and Haemaphysalis concinna are regarded as aggressive to humans. Recently, significant changes in world tick fauna have been reported and this affects the spread of tick-borne pathogens. We studied the current species diversity, population structure and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) that attacked humans in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region, Russia). In total, 31,892 individual ticks were identified and analysed during the years 2007-2014. The majority (85.4%) of victims was bitten by I. persulcatus, 14.55% of attacks on humans were caused by D. nuttalli and D. silvarum, whereas H. concinna was documented only in 15 cases (0.05%). The seasonal activity and the age/gender structure of the tick population were studied as well. Among all the studied ticks, three unconventional species, i.e. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Amblyomma americanum, were identified. Analysis of tick bite histories indicates at least three events of invasion of non-endemic ticks into the ecosystems of northern Eurasia with harsh continental climates. Invading ticks are able to reach the adult life stage and are aggressive to the local human population. Phylogenetic analysis of mt 16S rRNA gene fragments suggests multiple independent routes of tick migration to Eastern Siberia. Possible implications to human health and epidemiology of tick-borne infections are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Anatolyevich Khasnatinov
- Federal Budgetary Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (FBSC FHHRP), 3, K. Marks st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Alexander Valeryevich Liapunov
- Federal Budgetary Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (FBSC FHHRP), 3, K. Marks st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Ellina Lopsonovna Manzarova
- Federal Budgetary Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (FBSC FHHRP), 3, K. Marks st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Nina Viktorovna Kulakova
- Federal State Public Science Institution Limnological Institute, 4, Ulan-batorskaya st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Irina Viktorovna Petrova
- Federal Budgetary Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (FBSC FHHRP), 3, K. Marks st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Galina Anatolyevna Danchinova
- Federal Budgetary Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (FBSC FHHRP), 3, K. Marks st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
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Arthan W, Sumrandee C, Hirunkanokpun S, Kitthawee S, Baimai V, Trinachartvanit W, Ahantarig A. Detection of Coxiella-like endosymbiont in Haemaphysalis tick in Thailand. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 6:63-8. [PMID: 25301324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we focused on the molecular detection of Coxiella-like bacteria using a PCR technique to identify Coxiella 16S rRNA sequences in Haemaphysalis tick samples (105 adults, 8 nymph pools and 19 larval pools). Seven Haemaphysalis species obtained from 5 locations in Thailand were evaluated in this work. Coxiella endosymbionts could be detected in samples representing all 3 growth stages examined. The results also revealed that only 4 of 7 tick species were positive for Coxiella-like endosymbiont: Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis lagrangei, Haemaphysalis obesa, and Haemaphysalis shimoga. Haemaphysalis shimoga demonstrated the highest percentage of Coxiella-like positive samples (58.33% with n=24), while Haemaphysalis hystricis had the lowest percentage; only 1 female tick was positive for Coxiella-like bacteria (n=6). Interestingly, the results indicated that female Haemaphysalis ticks tended to harbour Coxiella symbionts more frequently than male ticks (59.32% of females and 21.27% of males of all species studied). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences illustrated that Coxiella-like spp. from the same tick species always grouped in same clade, regardless of the location from which they were isolated. Moreover, a phylogenetic tree also showed that Coxiella-like endosymbionts from other genera (for example, the tick genus Rhipicephalus) formed a separate group compared to Coxiella-like symbionts in the genus Haemaphysalis. This suggests that a high amount of DNA sequence variation is present in Coxiella-like bacteria harboured by ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Watchara Arthan
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Chalao Sumrandee
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Supanee Hirunkanokpun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Ramkhamhaeng Road, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
| | - Sangvorn Kitthawee
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Visut Baimai
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Wachareeporn Trinachartvanit
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Arunee Ahantarig
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
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Hornok S, Meli ML, Gönczi E, Halász E, Takács N, Farkas R, Hofmann-Lehmann R. Occurrence of ticks and prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in three types of urban biotopes: forests, parks and cemeteries. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:785-9. [PMID: 25127161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare different urban biotopes for the occurrence of ixodid tick species, for the population density of Ixodes ricinus and for the prevalence rates of two emerging, zoonotic pathogens. Altogether 2455 ticks were collected from the vegetation on 30 places (forests, parks, cemeteries) of Budapest, Hungary. I. ricinus and Haemaphysalis concinna were collected in all three biotope types, but Dermacentor reticulatus only in parks and forests, and D. marginatus only in a forest. Highest population density of I. ricinus was observed in neglected parts of cemeteries. In females of this tick species the prevalence rates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. were significantly lower in cemeteries, than in parks or forests. In conclusion, risks associated with the presence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens may be high in a city, but this depends on biotope types, due to habitat-related differences in the vegetation, as well as in the availability of tick hosts and pathogen reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Marina L Meli
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Enikő Gönczi
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edina Halász
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Chong ST, Kim HC, Lee IY, Kollars TM, Sancho AR, Sames WJ, Chae JS, Klein TA. Seasonal distribution of ticks in four habitats near the demilitarized zone, Gyeonggi-do (Province), Republic of Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2013; 51:319-25. [PMID: 23864743 PMCID: PMC3712106 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.3.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study describes the seasonal distribution of larvae, nymph, and adult life stages for 3 species of ixodid ticks collected by tick drag and sweep methods from various habitats in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Grasses less than 0.5 m in height, including herbaceous and crawling vegetation, and deciduous, conifer, and mixed forests with abundant leaf/needle litter were surveyed at United States (US) and ROK operated military training sites and privately owned lands near the demilitarized zone from April-October, 2004 and 2005. Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann adults and nymphs were more frequently collected from April-August, while those of Haemaphysalis flava Neumann and Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka and Saito were collected more frequently from April-July and again during October. H. longicornis was the most frequently collected tick in grass habitats (98.9%), while H. flava was more frequently collected in deciduous (60.2%) and conifer (57.4%) forest habitats. While more H. flava (54.1%) were collected in mixed forest habitats than H. longicornis (35.2%), the differences were not significant. I. nipponensis was more frequently collected from conifer (mean 8.8) compared to deciduous (3.2) and mixed (2.4) forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
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Hornok S, Tánczos B, Fernández de Mera IG, de la Fuente J, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Farkas R. High prevalence of Hepatozoon-infection among shepherd dogs in a region considered to be free of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Vet Parasitol 2013; 196:189-93. [PMID: 23499483 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Blood samples and ticks were collected from 100 shepherd dogs, 12 hunting dogs and 14 stray dogs in southern Hungary, in order to screen them for the presence of Hepatozoon spp. by PCR. Out of 126 blood samples, 33 were positive (26%). Significantly more shepherd dogs (31%) were infected, than hunting (8%) and stray dogs (7%). Three genotypes of Hepatozoon canis were identified by sequencing, differing from each other in up to six nucleotides in the amplified portion of their 18S rRNA gene. In Dermacentor marginatus larvae/nymphs and Dermacentor reticulatus nymphs, H. canis was present only if they had been collected from PCR-positive dogs, and the genotypes were identical in the ticks and their hosts. However, two Haemaphysalis concinna nymphs removed from a PCR-negative dog were found positive for H. canis, and the genotype detected in specimens of this tick species differed from that in the blood of their respective hosts. These results indicate that canine hepatozoonosis may be highly prevalent in regions where Rhipicephalus sanguineus is considered to be non-endemic. In addition, H. canis was identified for the first time in Hungary, as well as in D. marginatus, D. reticulatus and Ha. concinna ticks. Canine hepatozoonosis was significantly more prevalent west of the Danube river (where higher densities of red fox and golden jackal populations occur), suggesting a role of wild carnivores in its epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István u. 2., 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
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